Display device

Abstract

A display device can include a first substrate divided into a display area and a non-display area, a second substrate disposed on the first substrate, and a dam provided in the non-display area, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to bond the first substrate and the second substrate. The non-display area includes a first area and a second area. Further, a first gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area is larger than a second gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the second area of the non-display area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display device comprising:
 a first substrate divided into a display area configured to display an image and a non-display area adjacent to the display area;   a second substrate disposed on the first substrate; and   a dam provided in the non-display area, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to bond the first substrate and the second substrate,   wherein the non-display area includes a first area and a second area, and   wherein a first gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area is larger than a second gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the second area of the non-display area.   
     
     
         2 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the dam is disposed in the first area of the non-display area, and further extends into a part of the second area of the non-display area. 
     
     
         3 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first area is located at an outer portion of the non-display area and contacts the second area located at an inner portion of the non-display area. 
     
     
         4 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has at least one first stepped portion provided at an inner surface of the first substrate, and
 wherein the second substrate has at least one second stepped portion provided at an inner surface of the second substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The display device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one first stepped portion and the at least one second stepped portion are disposed around a boundary between the first area and the second area in the non-display area, so that the first gap is larger than the second gap due to the first stepped portion and the second stepped portion. 
     
     
         6 . The display device of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area includes a modified portion provided at the first stepped portion or the second stepped portion,
 wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate in the second area of the non-display area includes a non-modified portion provided at an inner surface thereof, and   wherein the modified portion has a higher surface roughness than the non-modified portion.   
     
     
         7 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has a first inclined surface provided at an inner surface of the first substrate,
 wherein the second substrate has a second inclined surface provided at an inner surface of the second substrate, and   wherein the first gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area is determined to be an average value of different gaps in the first area, and is larger than the second gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the second area of the non-display area.   
     
     
         8 . The display device of  claim 7 , wherein the first substrate has a thickness that decreases in a direction from an inner portion of the non-display area toward an outer portion of the non-display area, and the thickness of the first substrate decreases to define the first inclined surface, and/or
 wherein the second substrate has a thickness that decreases in the direction from the inner portion of the non-display area toward the outer portion of the non-display area, and the thickness of the second substrate decreases to define the second inclined surface.   
     
     
         9 . The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate has at least one first trench provided on an inner surface of the first substrate,
 wherein the second substrate has at least one second trench provided on an inner surface of the second substrate, and   wherein the first gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area is determined to be an average value of different gaps in the first area, and is larger than the second gap between the first substrate and the second substrate in the second area of the non-display area.   
     
     
         10 . A display device comprising:
 a first substrate divided into a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area;   a second substrate disposed on the first substrate; and   a dam provided in the non-display area, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and configured to bond the first substrate and the second substrate,   wherein the non-display area includes a first area and a second area,   wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area includes a modified portion provided at an inner surface thereof in the first area,   wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate in the second area of the non-display area includes a non-modified portion provided at an inner surface thereof in the second area, and   wherein the modified portion has a higher surface roughness than the non-modified portion.   
     
     
         11 . The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the dam is disposed in the first area of the non-display area, and further extends into a part of the second area of the non-display area. 
     
     
         12 . The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the first area is located at an outer portion of the non-display area and contacts the second area located at an inner portion of the non-display area. 
     
     
         13 . The display device of  claim 10 , wherein the first substrate further includes at least one first stepped portion provided at the inner surface of the first substrate in the first area of the non-display area, and
 wherein the second substrate further includes at least one second stepped portion provided at the inner surface of the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area.   
     
     
         14 . The display device of  claim 13 , wherein the modified portion comprises a first modified portion and a second modified portion,
 wherein the first modified portion is disposed at the inner surface of the first substrate in the first area of the non-display area, and   wherein the second modified portion is disposed at the inner surface of the second substrate in the first area of the non-display area.   
     
     
         15 . The display device of  claim 14 , wherein the first modified portion is disposed at the first stepped portion in the first area of the non-display area, and
 wherein the second modified portion is disposed at the second stepped portion in the first area of the non-display area.   
     
     
         16 . A display device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, and including a display area and a non-display area adjacent to the display area;   a plurality of pixels disposed between the first and second substrates in the display area, and configured to display an image; and   a dam disposed between the first and second substrates along the non-display area, and surrounding the display area,   wherein an inner surface of each of at least one of the first and second substrates in the non-display area includes at least one pattern that increases a bonding surface area to improve bonding between at least one of the first and second substrates and the dam in the non-display area.   
     
     
         17 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one pattern in the non-display area includes a single stepped portion, a plurality of stepped portions, an inclined surface, or trenches. 
     
     
         18 . The display device of  claim 17 , wherein when the at least one pattern in the non-display area includes the single stepped portion or the plurality of stepped portions, the at least one pattern further includes a modified portion provided at a surface of the single stepped portion or the plurality of stepped portions in the non-display area, and
 wherein the modified portion has a surface roughness that is higher than a non-modified portion in the non-display area.   
     
     
         19 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface of each of the first and second substrates in the non-display area includes the at least one pattern, and
 wherein the at least one pattern on the first substrate mirrors the at least one pattern on the second substrate.   
     
     
         20 . The display device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a protective layer covering the plurality of pixels in the display area, and extending into the non-display area,   wherein the at least one pattern in the non-display area is located to correspond to an area where the protective layer begins to taper toward an outer portion of the non-display area.   
     
     
         21 . The display device of  claim 16 , wherein a distance between the inner surface of the first substrate and the inner surface of the second substrate increases in a direction from an inner portion of the non-display area toward an outer portion of the non-display area.